Pull rod connection



July 20, 1943. E. a. THOMAS ET AL PULL ROD CONNECTION Filed Feb. 16, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Elmer R. Thomas David Erickson INVENTORS.

I m ATTORNEYW July 20, 1943. E. R. THOMAS ET AL PULL ROD CONNECTION Filed Feb. 16 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Elmer 12.772 omas D a v1d En ckson INVENTORS.

. ATTORNEK July 20, 1943.

FULL ROD CONNECTION.

Filed Feb. 16, 1942 F1 .7 i 26 39 I 25 v-3,

a R. THOMAS EEAL 2,324,963

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Elmer R. Thomas David Erickson 1N VENTORS ATTORNEY Patented July 20, 1943 Elmer R. Thomas, Healdton, kla., and David Erickson, Wichita Falls, Tex.; Selma E. Erickson, executrix of said David Erickson; deceased said Selma E. Erickson, executrix, assignor to H. L.'Ayers and H. K. Ayers, comprising the partnership of Wichita Wire Wichita Falls, Tex.

& Iron Company,

1 Application February 16, 1942, Serial No. 431,154 .8 Claims. (Cl. 2s7 124) This invention relates to improvements in pull rod connections of the character used for attaching the pull rods of oil well pumps and the like to eccentric motions which operate the same.

The oil well pumps are operated frequently from an eccentric motion power unit which drives a plurality of pull rods. After a pump has forced out the accumulated oil in the well, it is desired to release the pull rod thereof from the eccentric motion while the well is filling, to prevent the idle operation of the pump, which may be injurious to the oil. It has been customary to connect the pull rod with the eccentric motion by a C-link to permit releaseof the rod, but this required manual grasping of the link to release it. Since the releasing action must take place during the reciprocating movements of the pull rods, this oftenresults in injury to the hands or person of the operator. 1 v

The. object of this invention is to improve .the construction of the connectionbetween the pull rod and the eccentric motionto facilitate ready removal or release of the pull rod therefrom without danger of injury, and also to permit the parts to be connected without difiiculty whenever desired. This is accomplished by constructing theconnecting means with a holding pin for a pull rod link, which may be released manually by a handle connected therewith without danger of injury to the operator, which handle also facilitates thereconnection of the parts whenever desired.

The invention also includes an improved D-link which has sliding connection with the pull rod to permit retraction relative thereto out of the path of operation of the connecting means attached to theeccentric motion, and which may be drawn out for connection therewith when itis desired to operate the pull rod.

A' preferred embodiment of illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which? l Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an eccentric motion 'power unit and pull rods, having th invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the connection body, on the line 22 of Fig.1;

the invention is 'Fig. '7 is a side elevation thereof; Fig. 8 is a transverse serction therethrough on the line 8-8' of Fig. 6; and V V Fig. 9 is, a similar view looking in the opposite direction, taken on the line 99 of Fig. 6.,

The invention is shown in Fig. 1 as applied to a plurality of pull rods which are operated from a single power unit I drivingthe eccentric motion 2. The pull rods which radiate. from the power unit eccentric motion are designated gen- 'erally by the humeral 3, and extend therefrom to the respective well pumps for operating the same.

Each pull rod 3 is shown as connected with the eccentric motion 2 by a clevis 4, which has a link 5 secured thereto at one'end. The opposite end Fig.3 is a top lan view thereof with the handle in releasedposition;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof,

showing the handle and pin in engaged positions; Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the body; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the D-link and clamps of the link 5 is attached to a connection body 5, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. One end of the body Shas a'V-groove l therein which has tapering sides, as shown in Fig. 5, to accommodate links of different diameters, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5; At the inner end of the V-groove 1 is a recess 8 receiving ahead 9 formed on the link 5, and the link 5 is clamped securely in the V-groove 1' by a bar I0 which extends thereover behind a shoulder I [(see Fig. 4). Bolts l2 extend through the bar I0 and the body 6 to secure thefonner in place and thereby hold the link 5 against slipping loose from the body, while the head 9 prevents it from pulling out in the event that the rod should become'loose.

Thebody 6 has a longitudinal passageway 13 extending intothe opposite end thereof from the link 5 to receivetherein a D-link M. 'The D-link 14' may be pushed forward relativeto the body's .until its forward end abuts against the forward arm l8 'whichis carried by a handle member I 9. 'The handle member I9 is pivotally supported at 20 between upstanding, ears 2| on the body 6.

which pivot 20 is intermediate the major portion of the handle I 9 and arm l 8laterally offset therefrom, as shown in Fig. 4. The handle member l9 also has an offset heel portion 22 in position to abut against the surface 23 at the upper side of the body 6 to limit the swinging movement of the handle member I9 when it is turned from its full line to its dotted line position in Fig. 4. When thus lowered, the handle member holds the pin IS in a raised position, releasing the D-llnk ll 'for disconnection of the pull rod 3, as shown in Figs. 6 to 9, to permit the D-link to'be retracted slidably receiving the sides of the D-llnk, ll, shown in Fig. 9.

A similar two-part clamp 28 is secured by bolts The clamp 24 has grooved portions 21 on opposite sides of the pull rod 3,

29 rigidly to the arms of the D-link behind the heads 30 on said arms for holding said clamp 28 securely thereon. The clamp 28 has a grooved portion 3| slidably receiving the pull mod 3 and loose relative thereto, as shown in Fig. 8. An upstanding handle 32 is secured also to the clamp 28 to facilitate forward movement of the D-link H relative to the pull rod.

During normal operation of the oil well pumps, the parts are connected as shown in the'upper portion of Fig. 1. When it is desired to disconmeet a pull rod, as shown in the lower portion of Fig. .1, it is first necessary to insert a knock-off block 33 over the pull rod 3 against the knock-cit post 3! and between the latter and the usual pull rod 'clamp 35. Then it is only necessary for the operator to grasp the handle 19 and swing the same down to the dotted line position in Fig, 4,

' out of the path of movement of the connection body 5 under the influence of theeccentrlc motion. Thus. the parts may be readily disconnected in a very simple fashion without danger oi injury to the workman, and the connecting link is withdrawn so as to eliminate danger of iii lts'being struck by the operating connection body during the continued operation of the eccentric motion. which might cause injury .to the parts or release of the pull rod accidentally from the knock-OE past. g

When it is desired to reconnect the pull rod with the eccentric motion, the operator may grasp the handle 19 and raise the sameto the lull line position in Fig. 4. While holding the handle/in this position with one hand. he may grasp the handle 32 with the other and thereby guide the O-llnk I4 into the passageway of the connection body 6. The pin l fiwill swing upon its pivot H to permit the insertion of the Ill-link l4 and then drop by gravity into the slot 1. In .a well pump operating structure, the

combination with a power unit, and a pull rod, of a connection between said power unit and pull rod, said connection comprising a link and a. body, one being connected with the power unit and the other being connected h t pu said body having a passageway therein slidably receiving the link, a pin detachably engaging the link, and a handle pivoted to the body and pivotally connected with the pin for releasing the pin from the link,

2. A pull rod connection comprising a body having a passageway adapted to receive a link therein, a pin for detachably engaging said link,

and a handle pivoted to the body and pivotally connected with the pin for releasing the pin lrom thellnk.

3. A pull rod connection comprising a body having a passageway adapted to receive a slotted link therein, a pin for detachably engaging in said link, a handle pivoted to the body and pivotally connected with the pin for releasing the pin from the link and means for limiting the swinging movement or the handle.

'4. A pull rod connection comprising a body having a passageway therein at one end thereof, a. D-clamp having a slotted portion Inserted into said passageway, a pin extending transversely through said'slotted portion, .a handle member pivoted to said body and having the pin pi.V otally connected therewith for supporting said pin, means on said body vat opposite sides of the passageway forming abutments for said pin, and means for limiting the swinging movement of the handle member.

5. A connecting link comprising a link body having a transverse clamp fixed thereon, said clamp having a guideway for slidably receiving a pull rod. and a second clamp slidahly mounted on the link body and having means for securing the same to the pull rod.

6.. A D-lllnk comprisinga link body having spaced sides, a transverse clamp extending in bridging relation between said sides and rigidly .flxed thereto, said clamp having an intermediate guideway .for slidably receiving a pull rod, and a second clamp extending in bridging relation between the sides of the link body and slidably mounted thereon, said second clamp having means for securing the same to the pull rod.

7. A pull rod connection comprising a body having a passageway therein adapted to receive a link, a pin tor detachably engaging said link. means forming shoulders at opposite sides of said passageway, and means mounting said pin transversely of the passageway with opposite end pol tlons thereof hearing laterally against said shoulders. said mounting means being constructed for movement or the pin out of enga ed with the link.

8. A pull rod connection a body having a passageway therein adapted to receive a link, a pin for detachably engaging said link, forming shoulders at opposite sides of said passageway, and means mounting said pin for swinging movement transversely of the passage.- way too link engaged position with opposite end portions themoi bearing laterally against the shoulders. s W I V. ELMER R. THOMAS.

DAVID ERICKSON. 

